The Phatthalung Provincial Court sentenced Chavalit Thongduang, aka Pang Nanode, and four other co-defendants to life in prison yesterday after being found guilty of assaulting and attempting to murder a police assistant                  

The verdict was read in front of four co-defendants and their lawyers, but without the presence of Pang Nanode who is still at large after escaping from a hospital in Nakhon Si Thammarat province on October 22.

The Phatthalung Provincial Court was previously scheduled to deliver the verdict on November 20, but this was postponed until Monday because police are still unable to recapture the defendant.

The other four co-defendants were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on December 15.

Pang Nanode’s lawyer, Chatchaval Bamrungwong, said that Pang has to show up to appeal the verdict, but he will prepare the necessary paperwork in advance, in case he surrenders to the police.